Street-sweeping machine.



PATENTED .m1-nr z. 1907. I c; BLY. STREET swEBPING MAGHINB.

APPLICATION-FILED AUG. 8, 1905.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

No. 858,946. PATBNTBD JULY a. 190'1.

' o. BLY. STREET swnrme monm.

APPLIULTIOI FILED LUG. l, 1905.

l/V VEN TOI? aural-Say F1 Ana/mers v No. 858.946. PATENTE!) JULY 2, 1907.

' C. BLY.

STREET SWEEPIN G MACHINE.

APPLIoATIol nnnn me. a. loos.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

CURTIS BLY, OF TICONDEROGQ, NEW YORK.

sTnEET-swEEPING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 2, 1907.

Appleman alta August 3,1905. sensi No. 272.508.

To all whom 'it may concer':

Be it known that I, CURTIS BLY, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Ticonderoga, in the county of Essex and State of New York, have invented a new and I Improved Street-Sweeping Machine, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to street sweeping machines, and it'consists substantially in the details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter more particularly described and pointed'out in the claims.

- The invention has reference more especially to mo` tor-propelled street-sweeping machines, though capable of being'drawn by animals in the ordinary way. I seek to provide such a machine of this character as may be easily regulated and quickly controlled, thoroughly eHective and reliable for its purposes, and possessing the capacity for long and repeated service.

The above and additional objects are attained by means substantially Asuch as are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a broken side elevation (in part section) of a street-sweeping machine embodying my improvements; Fig. 2 is a top plan view in section on the'line 2-2 of Fig. l; Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a rear end view, partly broken outand partly in section; and Fig. 5 is a part sectional detail view, showing a slight change in the form of the brushes employed.

Before proceeding with a more detailed description, it may be stated that in the form of my improvements herein shown I employ a machine comprising a main body of special construction, provided with means for supporting a suitable gasolene or -other motor by which the machine is propelled, and from which the active or movable parts of the machine are driven or operated. Brushes or sweepers are employed, in special organization, the same being disposed in a specially constructed casing or housing therefor, in such manner as that the sweepings from the street are prevented from being scattered or dispersed about the vicinity of the machine, special means being alsol employed for receiving the sweepings within the machine as they are `thrown up by the brushes. Further specialA means are employed for lifting and conveying the sweepings from the receiver therefor, to any part of the interior of the main body of the machine desired; while still further special means are resorted to for enabling the brushes, together with the devices auxiliary thereto or associated therewith, to be elevated from the ground either to avoid obstructions, or for any other reason. Other special means are employed for discharging the sweepings from the machine, in a heap or at a suitable dump therefor, said means being driven byspecial driving connections from the shaft of the motor, and capable of being thrown into and out of operation, at will.

Reference being had to the drawings by the designating characters thereon, 1 represents the base or bottom of my improved street-sweeping machine, on the under side of which, at either side thereof, are axles 2 and 3, provided with journal necks 4 and 510i the sets of forward and rearward supporting-wheels 6 and 7 for the machine. The base or bottom 1 'is preferably rectangular in shape and provided with vertical sidepieces 8, connected by an end-piece 9 at the rear of the machine, and, supported at a suitable height from said base or bottom, as by means of uprights 10, is the main body of the machine, also preferably rectangular in form and constructed with the floor 11front and rear walls l2 and 13, and Vside-walls 14 and 15, the latter embodying an outwardly swinging door 16, hinged at 17, or otherwise movablyattached at its lower edge to the adjacent edge of said floor `11, the latter being secured in any suitable manner to transverse beams 18, secured also in any suitable manner to the uprights 10 for the iioor. Said main body of themachineis divided into a plurality (three being shown)'of transverse compartments 19 by means of partitions 20 preferably (though not essentially) having* angular edgeportions 2l, by which they may be secured to the inner surface of the side-wall 14 of the 'main body, if desired, it being noted inl Fig. 1 that both the forward end-wall 12 and the rearward wall 13 of this body are also provided with similar edge-portions 22 and 23, for

a like purpose;

The top of the main body of the machine is only partly closed (directly) by means of adjacent longitudinal topstrips 24 (see Fig. 4) extending inwardly from the upper edges of the said side walls 14 and 15 of thebody, and having a central longitudinal space between their own inner edges, along which latter edges are secured-in any suitable manner opposite reversely disposed longitudinal angle-rails 25 (see Figs. 3 and 4) alongside the inner faces of the vertical members of which are supported in any suitable way' the the full length of the said .main body, the forward parallel members 26 of a hood 27 extending practically 1 extremities of said angle-rails 25 and parallel members 26 of said hood projecting beyond the front wall 12 v26 are separated from the adjacent or upper faces of the horizontal members of said angle-rails 25 by means of spaces 28 in which are guided the ends of the slats of'a shiftable jointed slatted belt 29 provided at the.

a drum or roller 31 (see Figs. 2 and 4) havingl the journals 32 ofthe shaft thereof supported in suitable oppo- (rear) of the hood is preferably closed as indicated at 33. Secured to the forward end or extremity of said slatted belt 29 are other cords or chains 35 winding upon a drum or roller 36, the ends of the shaft 37 of which are rotatably supported in bearings provided therefor in the side walls 38 of an outer or superposed compartment 39 of a vertically-movable casing 40, said compartment being constructed of the aforesaid sidewalls 38, the parallel vertical walls 41 and 42, and the forwardly and downwardly parallel continuations 43 and 44 of said walls 41'and 42 (see Fig. l), the forward end of said continuation 44 joining with a vertical extension 44 of the front or forward wall 45 of said vertically movable casing 40 (see also Fig 1). Pendent from said wall 4l of the compartment 39 are duplicate vertical members 46 hanging within the casing, and to the inner faces of which are secured at 47 the lower ends of duplicate strong upwardly and rearwardly extending friction-springs 48, a portion of each of which, near its free end, projects through an opening 49 therefor in the rearward wall 50 of said verticallymovable casing 40, and presses against the outer side of the forward end-Wall of the main body of the machine, thus to form a strong frictional support fo'r this casing in any position thereof. The casing 40 is about equal in width to the aforesaid main body of the mal chine, While the width of the compartment 39 is considerably less, as shown, it being noted that the main interior of the casing 40 is provided adjacent to the side-walls 5l of said casing, with vertical partitions 52, which, together with corrseponding portions of said sidewalls 51, form vertical lateral compartments 53 (see Fig. 3), the lower ends of which practically lead to the upper surface of a forwardly-extending horizontal shelf or floor-section 54 of the easing, said shelf or floor section serving as a receiver for the sweepings from the street, as will presently be explained.

Mounted in suitable bearings provided therefor, in the side-Walls 51v of the vertically-movable casing 40, are the journals of shafts 55, 56 and 57 of rotatable brushes 58, 59 and 60, said shafts 55 and 56 having sprocket and chain connect-ions 6l and 62 at the ends, and the end of the latter shaft (56) and end of shaft 57 having similar sprocket and chain connections 63 and 64 therebetween, by which it will be 'seen that rotary motion may be imparted to said brushes, so as to cause the sweepings to be thrown onto the said receiver or Hoor-section 54 of the casing 40, in an obvious manner, it being noted that the end of the shaft 55 at the right of the machine, isprovided with an additional sprocketwheel 65 (Fig. 3) with which engages a sprocket-chain 66, which also engages with another or upper sprocketwheel 67 carried at the outer end of a short transverse shaft 68 (Fig. 2) supported by a bearing 69 on the adjacent outer side of casing 40, and another bearing 70' secured at 71 to the corresponding outer side of cornpartment 39, said shaft 68 carrying a beveled toothed pinion 72, engaging with a corresponding beveled toothed pinion 73 carried at the end of a longitudinal shaft 74 mounted in bearings 75 located on the adjacent faces of the wall 41 of compartment 39 andthe said rearward Wall 50 of easing 40, just above one of the inner vertical partitions 52 of said casing. Also mounted in corresponding bearings 76, similarly located just above the other one of said vertical partitions 52, is another longitudinal shaft 77, the two said shafts being provided with sets of notched wheels 78, engaging with the corresponding notches of which are the ends of vjoint-rods 79, between the links of a pair of endless traveling chains 80, working in or through the coinpartnients 53, which ends of said joint-rods also engage the notches of corresponding notched wheels 82, the ends of the shafts 83 of which are supported in bearings therefor in the upper ends of sets of brackets 84 secured in proper position upon the receiver or shelf 54 for the sweepings` from the brushes. Supported by correspondinglin ks of said chains are buckets or scoops 85, for taking up the sweepings from the receiver or shelf 54, and for elevating the same to the upper part of the 4interior of casing 40, it being shown in Fig. 3 that when the said buckets or scoops reach said upper interior of the casing, they are successively carried by the chains to positions to empty the contents thereof. These contents of the buckets are received upon the upper surface of the forward horizontal port-ion of the hereinbefore-mentioned shiftable slatted belt 29, it being noted that mounted above said slatted belt are a pair of parallel endless traveling chains 86, or their mechanical equivalent carrying between them the endless series of Scrapers 87which, in the movements of said chains, are

caused to scrape along the surface of as much of the belt 29 as may be beneath the same, and thus carry or deliver the dirt into any one of the compartments 19 of the body of the machine, as will be apparent.

In moving across the upper part of the interior of the casing 40, the buckets are supported and guided on short shelves 88 (see Fig. 3) disposed in said casing laterally of the forward portions of the parallel members 26 of the hood-27.

It will be seen (Figs. 1 and 2) that one end of the shaft of the winding-drum or roller 36 for the forward cords or chains 35 of the shiftable belt 29 is provided with a sprocket-wheel 89, engaging with the teeth of which are the links of a sprocket-chain 90, also engaging with a similar sprocket-wheel 91, carried at the corresponding end of a transverse shaft 92 supported in any suitable bearings therefor in the upper portions of the side-walls 38 of the hereinbefore mentioned compartment 39 of the casing 40, the other end of said shaft being provided with a handle or crank 93, by the turning of which the forward end of the shiftable belt 29 may be carried more or less forwardly of the machine, as may be desired, and accordingly as the sweepings are to be conveyed to the first, second or third compartment 19 of the body, as will be understood. The winding-drum or roller 31 for the rearward cords or chains 30 of the belt 29 is provided at one end with a sprocket-wheel 94 (see Fig. 2), aroundwhich extends a sprocket-chain 95, which also extends around a similar sprocket-wheel 96, carried at the corresponding end of a short shaft 97, mounted in a bearing 98 therefor, secured at 99 to the upper surface of the hood 27. This shaft also carries at one end a handle or crank 100, by the turning of which in the proper direction, the belt 29 may be drawn rearwardly to any desired extent within the guides therefor, it being shown that the belt is partly guided and supported forwardly of the machine by means of a roller 101 supported within the compartment 39.

.The vertically-movable casing 40 is supported in proper position relatively to the body of the machine, by means of upper and lower vertically-disposed cleats 102 and 103, on either side of said casing, working in vupper and lower guides 104 and 105 therefor, on Ithe machine. It will be observed (Fig. I) that the outer surface of the lower portion of the rearward wall 50 of -the casing, is provided near the opposite sides of the latter with parallel vertically-disposed racks 106, the

lteeth of which are engaged by the teeth of toothed secchain 113, which passes around a wheel 114, at the lower part of the rear wall 13 of the body of the machine, thence upwardly and over another wheel 115, mounted in guides or supports secured at 115, and forwardly of the machine, the end thereof being connected to the end of a cord 116, adapted to be wound upon a vertical spindle 1].7 supported in a bearing 118 therefor and pro vided nearits lower end with a toothed ratchet-wheel 119 engaged by the end of a pivoted pawl 120. Said spindle is provided with a hand-wheel 121, and it will be seen that by turning the spindle in the proper direction the casing will be raised, as will all the described parts situated therein. It will be understood, however, that saidraismg is never to any great extent, and' consequentlythe operative connections between the movable parts are-not disturbed thereby.

Located in the bottom of each compartment 19 of the main body of the machine, are parallel transverselyextending guide-strips 115, and extending all the way through these guides, as well as through openings therefor in the partitions 20, are parallel longitudinal shafts 116 and 117 (see Figs. 1 and 4) carrying within each compartment sets of rigid pinions 118 and 119, which engage with endless racks 120, disposed near the ends of the inner sides of the flexibly connected slats 121 of an endless conyeyer within the compartment, said' slats also having, just beyond the ends thereof, suitable rollers 122, mounted on pins 123, and which ride upon the upper and lower edges of the said-mentioned guide-strips 115, whenever the conveyers are operated to move or travel to cause the sweepings deposited thereon from the inner end of amiable beit 29, to be discharged fromv the compartment, which discharge is permitted to be grooved to receive a feather 129 of a sleeve 130 in which has longitudinal movement the outer end-portion of a shaft 131, grooved to receive a feather` 132 (see Fig. 1) of a longitudinal shaft 133, supported in a bearing 134, and

having at the forward end thereof a beveled pinion 135,

engagingrwith another and larger beveled pinion 136 carried by the main driving-shaft 137, supported in a bearing 13S at each side of the machine,l as shown-in Fig. 2, for instance. The said shaft 131 has associated therewith a shifting device 139, pivoted at 140, and by essere the throwing of which (to the right in Fig'. 1) the said pinion will be carried out of engagement with the said pinion 136. The sprocket-chain 125 also passes against one side of the inner one of two sprocket-wheels 141, suplported in a transverse slidable frame 142 (see Fig. 4)

workingl in guides v143 and 144 therefor, secured'to the outer side of the rear wall 13 of the main body of the machine, Ysaid frame being provided with a pivoted operating lever 144, swinging upon a pivot. 145. The

sprocket chain 125 thence extends upwardly over a.

pulley 146, carried by a short longitudinal shaft 147, supported in bearings 148 and 149, secured on top of the body of the machine (see Figs. 2 and 4), said shaft carryingl a beveled toothed pinion 150 engaging with a similar pinion 151 carried by a-transverse shaft.15\2 r. ThenceV the sprocket continues downwardly around ahdlel" 153, and it will be seen that when the slidable frame 142 is carried to the position shown in full lines, Fig. 4, the'conveyers in the compartments 19'will be operated. When the lever 144 is operated to carry such frame to the dotted line position thereof, however, the said conveyers will bethrown out of operation. -The said shaft 152 and another shaft 154, supported within the upper interior of the casing 40, carry corresponding sets of pulleys 155 and 156, around which extend or pass the hereinbefore-mentioned parallel chains 86 for the scrapers 87 above the shiftable belt 29.

The main driving-shaft 137 receives its motion from a gasolene or other motor 157 supported on the bottom l of themachine, and hence it will now be understood how all the movable or active parts referred to are operbefore set forth. The connection 162 runs over an idler 163, and the main driving shaft is provided with a clutch device (see Fig. 4) 164 having an operating lever 165, by which the shaft 161 may be thrown out of operative connection with said driving shaft to permit the machine to be propelled along at any time without operating any of the parts operated from the motor.

Instead of employingthe construction and organizationof brushes shownin Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, I may employ the endless series of brushes a, the backs of b4 which are carried by one or more endless sprocketchains c extending around and being engaged by suitably mounted sprocket-wheelsv d which may be driven in substantially the same manner as are the brushes first referred to. .v Having thus described my inventionI claim as new and desire to secure byLetters Patent,-

1. A street-sweeping machine comprising a body, a vertically movable casing supported thereby, brushes rotatably mountedl within the casing, means within the casing for receiving A.the sweepings Vthrown 4up by4 the brushes, means also within the casing for carrying the sweepings from the first named-means, means partly extending Within the casing for recelvng the sweepings from the secondnamed means and delivering the same into the body, and means for elevating said casing to raise the brushes from the ground.

lng an opening in its top and divided into comprtments, brushes movuble in relation to Said body, receptacle for the sweepings thrown up by. said brushes, means for conveyin'g said sweepings from said receptacle, guides along tue edges of 'said opening in the top of said body, a slatted belt supported by and shifted lengthwise in said guides, duplicate cords at the rear end thereof, and m'enns for'winding up eachof said duplicate cords so as to shift said belt, and an endless'traveling belt having Scrapers moving along the surface of Said slatted belt. I

3. A street sweeping machine,` comprising avbody having 4an openingv in its top 'portio ,.a hood covering said opening a vertically arranged casing communicatilig with said opening, revoluble brushes mounted in sold casing,

means controllable at will for sustaining said casing at 15 CURTIS BLY.

Witnesses:

LEROY R. MEAD, ROY LocKwooD. 

